Letters to the Editor for July 19, 2013

Published: Friday, July 19, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at 10:49 p.m.

Wonderful work

I, like most of Gainesville, am glad to see Terry Jones and his church leave this city. But what has been forgotten is the wonderful work that the founders Donald Northrup and his wife, Dolores, accomplished for the 20-plus years prior to Jones taking over after his passing.

After spending 18 years in the mission fields of Africa, the Northrups came to Gainesville to start a church. From its humble beginnings they worked tirelessly to build Dove World Outreach Center into a pillar of this community.

As someone who attended Dove for years with Northrup at the helm, I saw the hand of God move in the church with countless lives touched. I am thankful for the Dove that I remember and the paths crossed prior to my leaving. I, as well as many others, know God's word to Northrup about the property on which the church sits. We are very happy it has stayed in the kingdom of God!

To the members Spirit of Faith Christian Center, you have been blessed with holy ground.

Charles Tucker,

Alachua

Not appropriate

On a recent Thursday at 6 a.m. I placed two letters in my home mailbox for the postal service to pick up. They were still there Saturday at 6 a.m.

This failure to pick up mail for delivery seems to be a recurring problem. I experience it several times per month.

If the post office needs to alter their pick-up delivery policy, then seek the appropriate congressional approval and modify your policy/rules. But don't just alter it without notifying the public. Don't disrespect your customers and randomly decide not to provide the expected/required level of service.

When I called the intended recipient of the mail in question, she told me she is experiencing the same problem. So is this is a calculated method to alter policy without the required approval? Or is this a work ethic situation that managers need to address?

Either way, this is not an appropriate way to treat your customers.

Dennis C. Mosley,

Gainesville

Cultural treasure

Denver is honored that one of our greatest cultural treasures, the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, along with renowned Denver musicians including my wife brought the historic Katherine Dunham masterpiece “Southland” to the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts stage July 15-16.

This work has only been performed one other time in the U.S., on the Denver stage in fall 2012. We are so pleased that Gainesville was the first U.S. city to welcome the “Southland” tour.

Robinson and her ensemble have served as Denver's cultural ambassadors for 43 years. They have brought the power, passion and beauty of the dance arts to a range of audiences and have served a significant role in preserving the diverse artistic and historic legacy of such timeless artists as Dunham.

We salute the University of Florida for its vision in bringing “Southland” to your students and community and hope this will be only the first of such endeavors.

Michael B. Hancock,

Mayor,

City of Denver

Mandated spying

M.L. Stein's July 8 letter states, “The Bushes are primarily responsible for this incompetent and corrupt Supreme Court.” Who then is responsible for the incompetence displayed by the current administration? I point to the scandals involving AP phone records, the NSA, Benghazi, the IRS and Operation Fast and Furious as proof.

According to the McClatchy Washington Bureau, President Obama quietly mandated a program in which “Federal employees and contractors are asked to pay particular attention to the lifestyles, attitudes, and behaviors ¬— like financial troubles, odd working hours or unexplained travel — of co-workers as a way to predict whether they might do ‘harm to the United States.' ”

The order covers virtually every federal department and agency. If you are a government employee, this mandated spying on your friends and co-workers harkens to Cuba, China and the USSR. How soon before this program bleeds into the non-government employee world, all in the name of national security?

Mike Whitehead,

Gainesville

Two letters

Two little letters can change “murder” to “love” — abortion to adoption.

Abortion: No one wins, the biological mother, enduring a traumatic procedure, nor the baby losing his/her life.

Adoption: So many win: The loving, adoptive parents, and most of all, the precious little human being, having been allowed his/her life to continue.

I have never heard, read of, or spoken with a woman who regretted her decision to give her child his/her life by not choosing abortion.

Sue Angermeier,

Archer

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